Why Makeup Artists Say Everyone Should Have Two Foundations

Ask any makeup artist in the game for a peek inside their kit and what you'll find is roughly 400 foundations. (OK, maybe that's a stretch, but they do own a massive array.) This is because MUAs need to be able to cater to a wide range of skin tones and types, seeing as clearly their clients will vary quite a bit in both areas. Believe it or not, this insider tip is very relevant to real life — aka all of us — as our own skin can change in terms of color and type throughout the year. (Yes, even if you're super sun-conscious.) But, before you go and shell out on five new foundations, don't. Because they say us non-professionals only need two.

There are quite a few reasons having more than one foundation in your collection is advantageous. Care to know? Read on to hear from the pros themselves. (Something tells us you'll be racing to buy a second base by the time you're done.)

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1. Finding your perfect shade isn't always easy.

Sure, there might be countless different apps that claim to tell you your exact color match, but somehow it can still be tricky (like if the lighting is weird where you're shopping or the line you're looking at doesn't offer enough undertones). "Skin tone matching is pretty hard to achieve with just one foundation," says New York City-based makeup artist Ingeborg, explaining that one of the main reasons for this is because our skin color can change seasonally.

"Even the most sun cautious can’t help but get a little color during the summer months, it’s basically unavoidable," adds makeup artist and founder of her eponymous makeup line, Fiona Stiles. "Having two shades lets you mix and match throughout the year so you have a shade when you’re at your palest and when you’re at your most tan," she says. And, since your undertone doesn’t change, those two shades should get you through every season.

2. You can shade and illuminate.

If you fancy a good contour, having two foundations can pretty much do all the work for you. "You can give your face a bit more shape and dimension by using a lighter shade on the center of your face and one shade darker where you would normally contour to enhance bone structure in a barely-there, natural-in-any-light way," says Ingeborg, who prefers to use stick foundations, such as those by Bobbi Brown or Vapour, for this technique. She adds, "Both are easy to blend, can be used to spot conceal, and have nice warm undertones."

3. You can create a custom formulation based on your skin's needs.

Another reason having two foundations is the way to go is because skin can be finicky; one day it might be on the drier side, while the next it could be a bit oily. This tip is especially important for those that have true combination skin, seeing as you might want to wear a base that mattifies or blurs on your T-zone area and a more moisturizing formula on the drier areas, like the cheeks. "I like to customize my foundation based on how my skin is doing that day," says makeup artist Elisa Flowers, who adds that she'll use Chanel's Vitalumière Aqua all over to even out her skin, and then go in with something more high coverage (such as Make Up For Ever's Ultra HD Invisible Cover Stick) in the areas where she needs it. This simple tip allows you to forego the concealing step, too.

All this to say: Having more than one foundation in your collection clearly has a lot of benefits, so if you haven't already, go shopping for your new second-favorite base. In the meantime, check out some of our must-haves for dry skin, oily and acne-prone skin, and for when you want really legit coverage.

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Now read up on even more foundations you'll love:

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Now, learn how to contour like a pro:

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